Help for 4 year old with head cold and flying?

[lkaanda]

We are leaving tomorrow for Florida and yesterday my 4 year old wakes up with a head cold. Its is mostly, sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose. He seems to be doing allright, but I am concerned about the effect flying will have. I had a bad cold once and flew back from Florida and was in so much pain the whole way back, I don't want that to happen to him. I am wating for the doctors office to call back with medicine recommendations. I was wondering if anyone here has had the same problem or had any good ideas for ways to help him. Thanks for any advice!

 

[dis75ney]

Double check with your doctor, but with the sneezing, eyes, and nose, I'd go with Children's Benadryl. If you get the MD's OK, give him the med about 30 minutes before you board. It should start taking effect then and might make him drowsy so he'd get some rest on the flight...

Hope you little guy feels better soon!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Double check with your doctor, but with the sneezing, eyes, and nose, I'd go with Children's Benadryl. If you get the MD's OK, give him the med about 30 minutes before you board. It should start taking effect then and might make him drowsy so he'd get some rest on the flight...

Hope you little guy feels better soon!

I agree. Children's Benadryl works wonders for my kids.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Use whatever decongestant the doctors recomends. If you can time it so he can have a second does about a half hour before landing do so. Also, order yourself a hot tea as close to landing as they serve drinks and have him hold it and inhale the steam in the half hour or so before landing to help his sinuses drain some more (assuming you feel he can hold the cup without spilling--or you can help him hold it, burns would not help).

 

[frtchr]

My niece used to have terrible ear pain when she was little and we were on flights. We used little plastic drinking cups, one over each ear, to help equalize pressure during landing and take-off. Her pediatrician recommended it, and it worked well for her. I hope your DS is feeling better soon! Have a good trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

From my experience flying home with a kid who'd gotten sick while on the trip?

Earplugs for the passengers all around you.

 

[mamaLori05]

I agree with the Children's Benedryl. Our doc actually recommended giving it to the kids before flying to help with any pressure pain, so we do, and it works.

 

[lkaanda]

Thanks everyone for your help! The doctor did call back and mentioned Benadryl as well, so I guess that is what we will try. We have never used it before, although I am not sure why. I guess I will see how he is tonight with it. I don't want him to be too drowsy and miss all the fun of flying. Thanks again!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

benadryl only helps with allergies. And wires as many kids as it puts to sleep.

The last time we flew with a sickie, he was put on Afrin and ibuprophren for the day. He didn't have any problems.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks everyone for your help! The doctor did call back and mentioned Benadryl as well, so I guess that is what we will try. We have never used it before, although I am not sure why. I guess I will see how he is tonight with it. I don't want him to be too drowsy and miss all the fun of flying. Thanks again!

Absolutely try it tonight first My DS responds normally to it, but for DD it is like giving her a couple cups of expresso

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Absolutely try it tonight first My DS responds normally to it, but for DD it is like giving her a couple cups of expresso

Well said! I never had a child become sleepy from the stuff. Cold medicines spazzed them also. My bad luck, I guess!

 

[MickQuinn]

My ds has had ear problems before so we were nervous about how he would do on a flight. My mom found these little rubbery things called Earplanes. They are designed to keep the ear canal open so that pressure equalizes. They seemed to work as he had no problems.

To really clear out the sinuses you might want to try a netipot with warm saline. It really helps get things draining.

 

[Wendy5055]

I do hope he is feeling better!

For heat relief on the plane, you can also find those little hand warmers. Place them on the area of sinuses and they really do help relieve pressure. Steam is good too, but not so readily available on an airplane. If he is old enough, chewing some gum or gummy bears/worms would be a good option too!

Benedryl always makes my dd8 into a zippy little night owl!!!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

those hand warmers sound like a great idea! I forgot, we have had luck with the earplanes, too.

 

[crysplefty]

We are leaving tomorrow for Florida and yesterday my 4 year old wakes up with a head cold. Its is mostly, sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose. He seems to be doing allright, but I am concerned about the effect flying will have. I had a bad cold once and flew back from Florida and was in so much pain the whole way back, I don't want that to happen to him. I am wating for the doctors office to call back with medicine recommendations. I was wondering if anyone here has had the same problem or had any good ideas for ways to help him. Thanks for any advice!

It sounds like allergies. If Children's Benedryl usually makes him drowsy, then I'd give that to him for the flight. For the rest of the trip, however, I'd give him Children's Zyrtec so he is not drowsy and cranky. Zyrtec clears it up much faster than Benadryl and without the drowsy side effect. Plus I'd bring a cool mist humidifier to run all night, every night. They make travel sized ones now. Allergies can lead to sinus infections.

 

[mamaLori05]

I wanted to mention too if you use the Benedryl, make sure your kiddo has a full or partially full tummy. For some reason if my dd takes it and has not had much to eat, it makes her sick. However, a lot of medicine does that to her, so maybe it is just her. And yes, I do use the correct dosage for her weight that was also recommended by her ped.